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Willemstad is the territorial capital of the Netherlands Antilles. Located on the island of Curaçao, it has an estimated population of 125,000. The city consists of two sections: Punda and Otrabanda. Punda was established in 1634, when Dutch captured the island from Spain. The original name of Punda originally was de punt in Dutch. Otrabanda, which was founded in 1707, is the newer section of the city and is considered to be the cultural center of Willemstad. Its name originated from the Spanish otra banda, which means "the other side." Punda and Otrabanda are connected by a long pontoon bridge.Willemstad is a center for oil refining by Royal Dutch/Shell and is considered to be the city in the West Indies with the most European cultural influence. The city center, with its peculiar architecture, has been made a UNESCO world heritage site. The city also is a tourist destination and contains several gambling casinos.
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Netherlands Antilles
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